The Never Summer Proto T3 Ultra was released back in September 2020 as the supercharged, higher-end version of the Proto T3. Since then, this board has received a few upgrades that make it the high-performance all-mountain freestyle board that it is today.
However, with it being Olympian Chris Corning’s pro model, is it too much board for casual resort riders?
Let’s find out.
Summary of the Never Summer Proto T3 Ultra Review
The Proto Ultra is a true twin all-mountain freestyle board designed for intermediate to advanced riders who want a stable yet still easy-to-ride board to help them level up their skills. The main highlights of this board are its stability, pop, and grip. It’s the right board for hitting jumps of all sizes while still being tuned for a phenomenal carving experience out of the park, too. The only underwhelming aspect of this board was its jibbing experience. With it being so stable and responsive, it was a bit tough to get a really tall press. Otherwise, this board was outstanding.
Board Reviewed: 154 Never Summer Proto Ultra 2025
Price of Board: $559.99
How the Price Compares to Others:
The Never Summer Proto Ultra costs $47.99 more than the average snowboard price of $512.0.
Our Rating Score: 4.55 out of 5
How the Never Summer Proto Ultra Ranks Against Others:
The Never Summer Proto Ultra ranks 5th out of the 34 boards we reviewed in the all mountain category.
The Never Summer Proto Ultra ranks 7th out of the 26 boards we reviewed in the all mountain / freestyle category.
The Never Summer Proto Ultra ranks 15th out of the 30 boards we reviewed in the park category.
What makes the Proto Ultra Special?
The features that make this board special are its hybrid camber profile, its locked-in edge control, its damp, stable feel, and its powerfully explosive level of pop.
Simply put, it’s a beast of an all-mountain board that can handle whatever you’ll encounter at your local resort. Best of all, it will level up your confidence in the process.
What is new in the Proto T3 Ultra for the 2026 season?
For 2026, this board was upgraded with a new carbon configuration that makes the board more responsive, get an extra boost of pop, and be a little more rigid in the nose and tail. Never Summer calls this carbon update its Precision Stitched Carbon Matrix. This is a new shape and method of weaving the carbon pattern into the core of this snowboard.
Previously the Proto Ultra had three X shaped carbon configurations that ran through the board, and now Never Summer uses a carbon pattern that looks like this in a few strategic places through the board.
The new pattern makes a board that was already explosively poppy to the next level. It also gives the board a nice 3D textured pattern to look at through the topsheet.
In addition to the new carbon configuration, Never Summer added some additional stance inserts they call their Blower Stance Inserts. This feature allows you to set your stance back further so the board can float a little better on powder days.
Notice the two extra sets of holes after the insert pack? Those are the Blower Stance Inserts.
The Pros and Cons of the Never Summer Proto T3 Ultra
Pros
- Explosive Pop: The level of pop is excellent for riders looking to hit large jumps.
- Outstanding Carving Experience: Exceptional stability and turning precision, even in challenging conditions. It’s got a quick turn initiation and is capable of digging a trench.
- Fast Base: The Durasurf XT Sintered 5501 base is the fastest Never Summer base. It’s got graphite in it, and it just wants to rip.
- Unmatched Level of Grip: This is a board that’s East Coast friendly. It has an exceptional level of edge hold on ice.
- Easy-to-Ride Aggressive Camber Twin: Despite it being a stiffer, responsive camber-dominant board, it is still very approachable and easy to ride.
- Smooth Ride / Focus on Damping: This board has three specific tech features to dampen it at the tips, underfoot, and in the sidewalls. It’s a smooth riding board with a stable feel, even at high speeds.
- Textured Top Sheet: The top sheet has some texture to it, which helps with getting on and off the lift.
Cons
- Higher Price Tag: At $700, this is on the more expensive side.
- Can Be Too Much Board for Casual Resort Riders: This will be too much board for some casual resort riders. If you’re just looking for a board to casually carve around your local resort and occasionally hit small to medium features in the park, you will not utilize the high performance features of this board to their fullest potential.
- Stiff Flex: This may be too rigid for some riders who just want to press and butter.
Main Benefits of the Never Summer Proto T3 Ultra
It Levels Up Your Confidence for Carving Technical Terrain.
It’s a grippy, stable board that you can charge anywhere and make any sized turn confidentially all over your local resort.
It Has a Massive Level of Pop for Launching off Jumps and Side Hits.
This board has a lot of carbon built into its construction. You can see the carbon configuration diagram here. Three carbon-shaped patterns (one x and two matrix shapes in the nose and tail) run the length of the board.
It Has the Recurve Traditional Camber Profile: A Powerful Yet Less Catchy Traditional Camber Profile
The Recurve Camber profile is Never Summer’s proprietary name for a traditional camber curved profile with three micro camber zones throughout it. It makes the profile of the board look like a wavy traditional camber arc.
The benefit of the Recurve Camber Profile is that it offers the power, pop, and stability of traditional camber, but with a less catchy feel and a stronger level of edge hold on ice.
Recurve Camber is essentially the same technology as Never Summer’s Triple Camber Profile, but it’s applied to a traditional camber shaped arc. This has a camber zone between your feet while the Triple Camber Profile has a rocker zone between your feet.
This Board Has Two Features That Give It a Phenomenal Level of Grip to Ice.
The Proto Ultra’s Power Grip Sidecut improves edge hold by using multiple angled radii to create more contact points between the board and the snow.
The sidecut also pairs with Never Summer’s R.I.P. Edge Hold Technology, which uses the unique curvature of the Triple Camber Profile to create additional high-pressure contact points for added stability and control.
Unlike other edge technologies that disrupt the sidecut with bumps or serrations, the RIP Edge Hold Technology gives the board an extra level of grip while still reducing its drag and suction to the snow.
These features allow the Proto Ultra to ride smoother while having a stronger level of grip to ice and harder packed snow.
The Primary Reasons for Buying This Board
The rider who gets this board gets it because:
- Unmatched Stability and Dampness: This board offers a smooth, stable, locked-in feel at high speeds, allowing you to charge all over the resort with confidence.
- Approachable Aggressive Carving: The Recurve Camber is relatively easy to ride, so you get an easy riding board that offers power, response, and precision for you to feel confident charging with it.
- Hit Jumps of All Sizes: This is a stable poppy board capable of holding its own on the really large jumps and features in the park.
- Ripping Speed: Its lightning-fast base will have you reaching the top of the mountain in no time.
Is It Too Much Board for Casual Resort Riders?
Yes, the Never Summer Proto T3 Ultra is probably too much board for casual resort riders.
This board is designed for Olympic-level pro riders, like Never Summer Pro Chris Corning. It’s his pro model board.
The Proto T3 Ultra has higher end features that prioritize its speed, stability, and explosive pop. These features increase the cost of this board and will make this board feel like its features are overkill for riders who just want to leisurely cruise down groomed runs.
For the higher price tag of the Proto T3 Ultra, you could find another board where you will use more of its features to improve the style of riding that you like to do.
I think of the Proto Ultra like this.
It’s Like Bringing a Race Car to the Grocery Store.
You don’t need to buy a race car just to casually drive it to the grocery store or run errands for the day.
You would only need a race car if you were a professional race car driver or someone aspiring to become one. Well, that’s the same scenario here.
If you need a board that you’ll push to its limits, I can’t think of a more high-performance board than the Never Summer Proto Ultra.
However, some of us simply want to treat ourselves and take a race car out for a spin once in a while and really appreciate its high-end feel, even if we won’t be pushing it, or ourselves, to the limit. It’s more about what it does to our confidence level and how badass we feel while riding it.
If that sounds like you, then yeah, you’re going to really love the Never Summer Proto Ultra.
Who Is the Never Summer Proto T3 Ultra the Right Board For?
Two types of riders will love this board.
- The all-mountain freestyle rider who prioritizes their carving abilities and needs a board with some grip and response. If you’re the type of rider who likes responsive twins and needs a board that feels stable and damp underfoot, you’ll love this.
- The intermediate to advanced park rider who loves hitting jumps, especially the large ones. This board has an explosive level of pop and a stable feel that supports even the largest of jumps. It’s the type of board that helps you take your jumping skills to the next level.
Who Is This Not the Right Board For?
While excellent for its intended use of aggressive carving all over the resort, the Proto T3 Ultra might not be the best choice for:
Powder riders of one foot or more snow. This board doesn’t offer many benefits for floating in really deep snow.
Beginners who are still learning to carve. This board caters more to the intermediate to advanced ability level.
The casual resort rider who doesn’t need to go the fastest or require such a stable charger of a board.
Park riders who mainly hit smaller features (the micro shredder). If you don’t hit large park features, you don’t need this board.
It’s a bit stiff and will be difficult to jib with if you are new to hitting rails or more of a casual park rider who wants a board to get a really tall press. If you like the main features of this board but want a board that can jib a bit better, check out the Proto Type 3 or Easy Rider instead.
My Rating of the Never Summer Proto T3 Ultra
The Never Summer Proto Ultra was rated on our All Mountain Freestyle scoring system. This rating scale prioritizes carving and versatility, along with park performance like jumping and jibbing.
The weighting column on the right side of the score will give you an idea of how much each consideration contributed to the overall score in this category.
| Considerations | Rating Out 5 | Score Out of 100 | Weight / Importance to Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pop / Power | 4.75 | 95 | 10 |
| Carving / Turns | 4.75 | 95 | 10 |
| Speed | 4.50 | 90 | 10 |
| Ice / Poor Conditions | 4.50 | 90 | 10 |
| Switch | 5.00 | 100 | 10 |
| Jumps | 5.00 | 100 | 10 |
| Dampness | 4.00 | 80 | 10 |
| Fun to ride | 5.00 | 100 | 10 |
| Resort Riding / Versatility | 4.50 | 90 | 5 |
| Responsiveness | 4.75 | 95 | 5 |
| Jibs | 3.50 | 70 | 5 |
| Powder | 3.38 | 67.5 | 3 |
| Buttering | 3.00 | 60 | 2 |
| Weighted Score | 4.54875 | 90.98 | 100 |
Our Rating: 
90.98 out of a possible 100 or 4.55 out of a possible 5 review score for the Never Summer Proto Ultra Snowboard 2025.
Photos of the New 2026 Never Summer Proto T3 Ultra Snowboard
Photos of the 2025 Never Summer Proto Ultra Snowboard Review
Video Summary
Here’s a quick summary video showing some clips of me riding the Proto Ultra while I narrate to tell you about its highlights.
Sizes Available in the Proto Ultra
The Proto Ultra is available in a 154, 157, 160, and 163cm.
What Size Did I Ride?
I rode this board in a 154cm.
Did It Feel Light or Heavy?
It felt on the lighter side when compared to other all mountain 154 cm twin boards.
How the Flex Rating Felt to Me
This board feels true to its flex rating at a 7/10 from nose to tail and 7.5/10 from toe to heel.
I was surprised to learn that you can still get a smaller (lower to the ground) nose press with this board easier than other boards with this same flex rating.
There is a flex point right beyond the contact point of the board, so if you get your weight really far out there, you can get a nose press while still benefiting from the stability the board offers.
Performance Notes for the Never Summer Proto Ultra
Versatility for All-Mountain Resort Riding
- Great for groomed runs
- Great for icy runs
- Mediocre for deep powder
- Great for large park features
- Average for smaller jib features
This is a board that will do most types of resort riding very well. It’s strengths are in its stability and grip, so if it were to get a little icy out, you would still feel like you were in total control.
It’s the type of camber board that isn’t necessarily catchy, either, so you’ll get the power and response of a traditional camber with a few rocker zones that help to make it a bit more forgiving and easier to ride.
This board’s resort strengths are in its carving abilities on all types of varied terrain. Where it wasn’t the best was in powder or buttering.
Jumping
This is why you would get this board. It’s the perfect camber-dominant jump board. The Precision Stitched Carbon Matrix gives this an extra boost off kickers.
This is the type of jump board that has enough stability to hit jumps of any size from small to large, and it will give you a nice extra boost of pop off of all of them.
Here’s where I thought this board helped me with my jumping skills.
- The added grip helped me with my setup carves, which made spinning feel a little easier.
- The wider shaped nose and tail with slight rocker zones helped me feel planted when I landed while making the board feel less catchy. If my axis was slightly off from a spin, I was still able to skirt my landing around and ride away clean. This board helps you feel planted when you land.
- The lightweight construction also made the board feel more maneuverable in the air overall.
- The pop will boost you. I’d rate the pop at a 9 / 10. It’s noticeably more pop than the average jump board.
Carving
Now, the carving experience is the second reason (behind jumping) why you would buy this board. It has a damper, higher-end, responsive feel.
The Proto Ultra has a quick turn initiation and feels powerful yet still forgiving and easy to steer. This board can make turns of all sizes. It can handle every type of turn, from shorter, tighter turns to making more aggressive, long, drawn-out trench-digging turns. This is a board that maintains its stability at high speeds, and that will boost your confidence, making you want to charge harder and ride more technical terrain.
Jibbing
The jibbing experience was what you’d expect from a board that is this stiff. It jibs well enough for the basic jib tricks like 5050s and board slides. It’s just too stiff to press easily. It also won’t do much in the way of helping you balance on the rail by molding around it (its too stiff).
This is not the type of park board that is equal in how well it jibs and jumps, and this one is more focused on jumping than jibbing.
Experienced jibbers will have no issues with this board. However, if you’re new to jibbing, just remember to go fast, keep your knees bent, and focus on your balance.
Buttering
It’s certainly still possible to butter with the Proto Ultra, but with it being so stiff, it will take some practice. This board’s profile and carbon configuration will fight you as it tries to rebound back into its original shape. The main challenge is that the board has a stiffer torsional flex (7.5 / 10) that makes it feel difficult to twist, so it’s difficult to continually keep your weight uphill as you try to spin your butter around.
If buttering is a primary focus for you, I’d recommend getting a softer board or a board that has a stronger rating for flat-ground tricks. This one is more for the rider who rarely tries to butter and prefers feeling locked into their turns.
Powder
I didn’t get to ride this in extremely deep snow. It did well with 4″ of light, fluffy snow. I got to ride it in, though.
That said, with this being a true twin board with a centered stance, it won’t be the best option for riding in powder often. If you are riding in the snow more than one foot deep often, I’d recommend looking through our powder board award list to find a board that has features to help it float in powder.
Edge Hold
Between the Power Grip sidecut and the new R.I.P. Edge Hold tech, this board feels absolutely locked into its turns regardless of how icy the conditions are outside.
One of the days I rode this, it was 5-degree weather here in the early season in Pennsylvania. It was sunny the day before, so there was ice everywhere, and the edge hold of this board came through. This board’s level of grip allowed me to charge on days I probably shouldn’t have while making me feel stable and safe.
Speed & the Base
The Proto Ultra features the fastest base on the Never Summer lineup, the Durasurf XT Sintered 5501 Base. It was noticeably fast in all conditions I rode it in. It maintains its speed very well in the flat sections and makes it easy to accelerate between features in the park. It glides quickly and absorbs wax really well.
One important note is that this base is really durable. I accidentally hit a rock, and the base is still flawless.
Overall, I’d rate its speed an 8 out of 10. It’s noticeably faster than average, but there are a few faster bases out there, too.
A Note on the Dampness
This does feel like a smoother, damper feeling ride. I’d rate its dampness at a 6.5 out of 10. You can feel some vibrations on really choppy terrain, but most of the minutia is filtered out, and this lets you ride longer without fatigue.
Never Summer configured the board with harmonic dampeners throughout the board.
Additionally, the entire topsheet of the board is lined with Never Summer’s durable Co-Extruded premium topsheet (it’s a blend of Nylon and Polyester) that includes Carbonium. This improves the board’s dampness and durability while also offering a stomp pad-like level of grip anywhere you stand on it.
Is It Worth Getting If You Ride Ice Often?
Yes. The edge hold is outstanding in this board.
This has the combination of incredible grip on ice, stability at speed, and a powerfully responsive feel that make it the perfect option for not only East Coast riders but all riders who want to charge hard regardless of conditions.
With that said, its strengths lie in high-performance riding, so if you’re a casual rider or you’re primarily focused on hitting smaller park features, this board’s technical features might be a little overkill for what you really need.
Think of it like this:
- East Coast Aggressive Carvers Will Love This For: High-speed carving, big air on side hits, and powering through icy conditions.
- East Coast Resort Riders Will Not Like This For: Casual cruising with a forgiving feel. This board feels fast yet controlled, but it isn’t the most forgiving, so you’ll need to be intentional with your turns.
- East Coast Park Riders Will Like This For: It’s jumping abilities. It’s got loads of pop. It feels grippy on icy take-offs, and it feels stable on landings.
- East Coast Park Riders Will Not Like This For: Its jibbing abilities. It’s not a flexible board, so it won’t mold around the feature to help you balance in any way. You’ll need to go fast, keep your knees bent, and get your weight in just the right spot to press this board on a feature.
Ultimately, it depends on your riding style. If you prioritize carving, side hits, and getting big air, the Proto Ultra will no doubt impress you.
However, if you’re looking for a more versatile, forgiving board that excels in a variety of conditions, you might want to explore other options or consider getting the Never Summer Proto Synthesis instead.
The Never Summer Proto Ultra Vs. the Never Summer Proto Synthesis
The Proto Synthesis is the more approachable board, better suited for most resort riders. Its rocker profile between the feet makes it more forgiving and playful.
Key differences between the two:
- Stable Response Charger Vs. Forgiving Versatility: The Proto Synthesis is the more playful and forgiving of the two boards. It’s better for hitting smaller park features, the more pressable board for jibbing, and the easier board to butter with while still being able to carve decently well all over.
- The Proto Ultra, on the other hand, is the stiffer, more responsive board that has a more stable carving experience. Its additional stiffness translates to stability, power, and response, which makes it capable of being ridden more aggressively.
- Pop: Both boards have an extra boost of pop. The Ultra offers around 10% more pop due to its camber dominant profile. The Proto Synthesis is not far behind, though. The Synthesis is loaded up with carbon, so it will also boost you when you need it to.
Similarities between the two:
- Speed: Both boards have the same base and offer around the same level of speed. (The Ultra is the more stable board where you will charge with it faster.)
- Shape: While the profiles are very different, the overall shapes of the board are the same. They have a standard all-mountain freestyle twin shape with a slightly blunted nose.
Who’s it for?
- Proto Synthesis: Ideal for any type of resort rider seeking a versatile board that can do it all.
- Proto Ultra: Best for aggressive carvers and park riders who hit larger jumps in the park.
Specs of the Never Summer Proto Ultra
| Size (cm) | Rider Weight (lbs) | Effective Edge (mm) | Tip Width (cm) | Waist Width (cm) | Tail Width (cm) | Sidecut Radius (m) | Width |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 154 | 120 – 160 | 1180 | 30.8 | 26 | 30.8 | 7.31 | Mid-Wide |
| 157 | 140 – 180 | 1210 | 30.9 | 26.2 | 30.9 | 7.61 | Mid-Wide |
| 160 | 160 – 200 | 1230 | 31.1 | 26.4 | 31.1 | 7.82 | Wide |
| 163 | 180 – 220+ | 1260 | 31.3 | 26.6 | 31.3 | 8.06 | Wide |
Review Wrap-Up: Is the Never Summer Proto Ultra Worth It?
This board is so high performance it will be too much snowboard for most of us. That said, it feels so nice underfoot, and you will feel a little more confident riding it.
If you like to go fast, dig the occasional trench, and get your board in the air, you’ll really enjoy the Never Summer Proto Ultra.
Bindings to Pair With the Never Summer Proto Ultra
I rode this board with the Union Force Classic Bindings. The stiffness of the binding and board paired together nicely.
Where to Buy the Never Summer Proto Ultra
You can buy the Proto Ultra at Evo, Never Summer’s Amazon store, Christy Sports, or Blauer Boardshop.
About the Reviewer
Rider Name: Steve Weber
Field Test Notes: I rode the 154 2025 Never Summer Proto between November 2024 through December 2024. I rode this board at my icy hometown mountain, Montage Mountain, here in PA.
Rider Experience Level: Intermediate to Advanced – I’ve been riding for over 15 years. I lean more freestyle than freeride. I prefer hitting jumps and jibbing over making the perfect turn.
Rider’s Preferred Terrain: The park with small to medium-sized features.
Size / Model: The board I reviewed was a 2025 Never Summer Proto Ultra in the 154cm size.
Bindings Used: Union Force Bindings
Rider Weight: 142lbs
Rider Age: 41
Why Trust This Review?
With over 15 years of park riding experience here on the icy East Coast, I know what it takes to have a safe and fun time out on the mountain. I’m an intermediate park rider who can relate to riders of all skill levels. I’ve been writing in-depth reviews just like this one for the past four years, and my main goal with this review is simply to help you find the right board.
I write these reviews as a “for the fun of it” project. They are as unbiased as I can be for someone who tends to ride in an area with icier conditions.
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Thanks for reading, and good luck out there!
Related Reviews
- Never Summer Proto Synthesis Review
- Never Summer Easy Rider Review
- Never Summer Proto Slinger Review
Steve Weber is the passionate snowboarder, skateboarder, and author behind Board of the World. He understands that most gear reviews focus on having the perfect snow conditions, but his testing methodology is different. Living in Pennsylvania, Steve describes exactly how a board performs when the conditions aren’t perfect. His reviews cover performance on ice, hardpack, and flat-out brick conditions. In other words, he reviews boards for the conditions that East Coast riders actually face.
Bringing 27 years of East Coast snowboarding and 21 years of skateboarding experience, Steve is a 42-year-old intermediate park rider. His recommendations are informed by decades of battling icy conditions, ensuring every review accounts for the board’s performance on the roughest of terrain.
For the last five years, Steve has poured his passion into writing in-depth, unbiased reviews that help riders make informed decisions about the gear they’ll use. He also works part-time at a snowboard shop in Northeastern Pennsylvania, which gives him a direct line to learning about the new gear tech months in advance. When he’s not writing reviews, Steve is often found riding at Montage Mountain and testing out new boards.
Steve’s goal with Board of the World is simple: to help every reader find the right gear so they can have fun outside from the first time they use it.